Halloween Season is Already in Full Swing for The Painted Plate.
Photography by: Courtney Potts
I hate pumpkin spice. However, I do really enjoy the fall and I’m always looking for new ways to welcome this time of year. When I heard The Painted Plate had Halloween themed ceramics, I seized the opportunity.
The Painted Plate, located on 104 W Market St is West Chester’s paint your own pottery store. “Halloween is our second busiest time of year, following Christmas.” says Chet Reber, the shop’s owner. They have ghosts, pumpkins, zombies, and spiders to decorate. All tools and supplies are included.
This past Sunday, I thought it would be a nice idea to invite my mother and nine-year-old sister to give the place a try. It was a rainy day and I expected the place to be empty and all to ourselves. We opened the door and there were many people painting.
The room was quite calm considering how many people were there. Many were busy working on their projects, I could see the concentration in each person’s eyes. Upstairs I could here children giggling, as they prepared for a birthday party. We found a cozy spot in the back of the shop; it was nice to have a whole table to ourselves.
Starting off, a staff member directed us to pick out our pottery. After we chose which one we wanted, she showed us all the supplies we had to work with. There was a wide array of tools you could use; not just the boring old paint brush. My sister chose to sponge-paint her piece, and really enjoyed exploring with different textures.
I found that the employees had a pretty laid back persona. They weren’t overwhelming, and did not order us to do everything step by step like most places. They let our creative minds roam free to do as we pleased.
Once we finished, one of the staff members explained that the pottery will be fired, glazed, and ready for pick up in a week. My sister was very excited to come back again, and started picking out a pottery piece for next time.
My mother along with many other customers, were most interested in creating custom wood art displayed on the back walls. Workshops are available online, to participate and sign up in groups of eight or more.
The best part about is that you can relax and paint, while having your favorite drink in-hand at these events. “Our after-work happy hours have been really catching on” Reber said. My mom and I will definitely be signing up for one of these workshops in the future. In all, The Painted Plate was a wonderful place to unwind and dig into our creative sides together, as a family. We are excited to come back and create more art.
